Staff
EPSO’s strategy is implemented by its members and staff.
Contact us to join our activities:
- Science policy (EPSO, ISE, Plant ETP), members, observers, association relations: Karin Metzlaff
- Conference, office, database, personal membership: Nadia Khawaja
- EU projects, workshops: Dorothée Bongaerts
- Newsletter, website, external publications: Daniela Mayes
If you have a general question or in case the person you wish to talk to is not available, please send an email to epso@epsomail.org
or call the office at: +32 22 13 62 60
Karin Metzlaff – Executive Director
Karin has been the executive director of EPSO since its creation in 2001. She works with the EPSO members and other partners to promote plant research in the European science policy arena by providing advice and recommendations to politicians at European, multinational and national level. Karin is a member of the Executive Committee of the European Technology Platform ‘Plants for the Future’ and represents EPSO in the Initiative for Science in Europe, ISE. Karin is responsible for all member, observer and association relations of EPSO.
Before creating EPSO, Karin has been project manager of twelve EU-funded plant research projects for two years. Karin has postdoctoral experience in various areas of plant sciences at the John Innes Centre Norwich (United Kingdom), the Federal Health Office (Germany) and the Martin-Luther University Halle (Germany). She obtained her PhD in plant genetics at the Martin-Luther University Halle.
Nadia – Office and Conference Assistant
Nadia Khawaja is the primary contact person for all questions concerning EPSO’s bi-annual conferences. She is responsible for all non-scientific issues related to the conference: venue choice and negotiations, support for scientific programme development, speaker invitation, participant registration, abstract submission, accommodation, catering, excursions and transfers, abstract book printing, financial management, and last but not least running the event.
Nadia is also responsible for the day-to-day office management. She assists our members as first contact and she manages the EPSO members’ database. Nadia is responsible for the practical organisation of Board and General Meetings. She is the financial administrator of the EPSO accounts.
Nadia is fluent in French, English, Spanish and has a good knowledge of Dutch.
Nadia joined EPSO in May 2009. She holds a master degree in Translation from the Haute Ecole Francisco Ferrer, Brussels.
Dorothée – Project Officer
Dorothée Bongaerts is our project officer. She is responsible for the administrative, legal and financial aspects of our EU projects and for the organisation of our workshops and brainstorms. In addition, she is the financial administrator for the ‘Plants for the Future’ ETP. Dorothée has been with us since August 2009. Dorothée is fluent in French, English and Dutch.
Prior to working at EPSO, Dorothée was the Commercial Delegate for a major Belgian bank. She also worked at the European Commission as Financial Officer on ICT projects within DG Information Society.
Daniela – Publications Officer
Daniela is responsible for the production and content of EPSO’s bi-monthly newsletter, EPSO website and public communications.